Police in Uttar Pradesh have shot and injured hundreds of suspects accused of cow smuggling in encounters that frequently leave them with bullet wounds in their legs, according to an investigation by the Associated Press (AP). The report raises questions about the use of force, police accountability and the disproportionate impact of the shootings on Muslims.
Police have described the shootings as acts of self-defence during a broader crackdown on crime. However, human rights activists, opposition leaders and judges have questioned whether the incidents amount to extrajudicial punishment and intimidation.
The shootings often follow a similar pattern, with police reports describing suspects fleeing or opening fire before officers shoot them in the legs to disable them.
Nearly 650 Cases of Suspects Shot Since 2020
The Center for the Study of Organized Hate, a Washington-based think tank, compiled records of nearly 650 cases involving suspects accused of cow smuggling who were shot and injured by Uttar Pradesh police since 2020. The AP independently reviewed a sample of more than 200 cases.
According to the centre, Muslims accounted for nearly 93% of the 627 cases in which identifying information was available.
The investigation examined incidents publicised by the police themselves, meaning the actual number of shootings could be higher.
Cow protection is a politically sensitive issue in India, where cows are revered by many Hindus and laws prohibit or restrict their slaughter in several states.
Mangla Verma, a human rights lawyer based in New Delhi, criticised the pattern of police action.
“This is a dangerous situation,” she told the AP. “It’s become a routine police practice … Instead of investigating, police kill or injure a person and justice is done.”
Allahabad High Court Questions Police Encounters
The shootings have also attracted judicial scrutiny. In January, the Allahabad High Court criticised the growing practice of police encounters, particularly cases in which officers shoot accused persons in the legs.
“This Court has noticed that the practice of police encounters, particularly firing at the legs of accused persons, has seemingly become a routine feature,” a judge wrote in a bail order, describing such conduct as “wholly impermissible” under the rule of law.
The court also suggested that some officers might be using encounters to attract attention from senior officials or generate public sympathy.
In another case in June, an Allahabad High Court judge expressed concern over what he described as a “culture of institutional impunity” in Uttar Pradesh.
Human rights groups have also sought independent investigations into police encounters. However, a case filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties in 2018 remains pending.
Police Deny Targeting Muslims
Amitabh Yash, a senior Uttar Pradesh police official, told the AP that officers were instructed to use force only in self-defence. He denied that police were rewarded for shooting suspects and said there was no policy linking encounters to career advancement.
Yash also said he would investigate the repeated pattern of leg injuries if an appropriate complaint were filed.
“The police must be questioned for every action they take. Every action is open to scrutiny, whether it is a death or an injury,” he said.
He argued that the high proportion of Muslims among suspects injured in cow smuggling cases reflected their participation in the cattle trade, rejecting allegations that police were targeting a particular community.
Families Struggle After Shootings
The AP spoke to families of six Muslim men who had been shot in the legs by police. The families said the injuries had affected their ability to earn a living, leaving some dependent on donations or loans.
One woman told the AP that her son, who traded buffaloes, could no longer work because of his injuries.
“He’s been left lame. His leg has developed a large swelling,” she said.
Raqib Naik, executive director of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, said the figures pointed to the disproportionate impact of the shootings on Muslims.
The report also noted that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government has promoted a zero-tolerance approach to crime. Police have defended the policy, saying it has strengthened public safety.
